Apparatus for lowering burial caskets into crypts



March 18, 1952 J, B, SINNER ErAL r 2,589,882

March 18, 1952 J. B. slNNER `rs1-Al.

APPARATUS FOR LOWERING BURAL cAsxETs INT0 CRYPTS Filed Jan. 51, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 John B. Sinner b I Oscar ALS/nner IN VEN TORS BY 4... da@ gm@ 5MM,

March 18, 1952 J. B. slNNER ETAL 2,589,882

APPARATUS FOR LOWERING BURIAL CASKETS INTO CRYPTS Filed Jan. 31', 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 .Q an .m m .m S V s X. \E A. m H B r m, m Mv n W h s @u v M 0 Patented Mar. 18, 1952 APPARATUS FoRLoWERING BURIAL cAsKErrs INT cRYP'rs J ohnB.V Sinner and Oscar A. Sinner, SanDiego, Calif.

Application January 31, 1949, serial No. 73,"162

2 Claims.

Our' invention relates to improvements in apparatus` for lowering burial caskets into subsurface crypts in mausoleums.

The primary object of our invention is to provide simply constructed, easily operated apparatus for lowering burial caskets into present-day sub-surface crypts smoothly with a minimum amount of labor, and which is substantially accident-proof'.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the character and for the purpose above set forth adapted for use in Sub-surface crypts of different Widths by easy, quick and accurate adjustment of theapparatus according to the. width of the crypt.

Still another object is to provide such an apparatus which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight for easy handling, while strong and durable, and not liable to get out of order under prolonged use.

Other and subordinate objects, within the purview of our invention, together with the precise nature of our improvements will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims arey read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the carriage of our improved lowering apparatus in the preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 isa view in plan of the track frame for the-carriage drawn to a smaller scale;

Figure 3` is a fragmentary view in perspective of the track frame drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section illustrating the use of the apparatus in lowering a casket into a sub-surface crypt;

Figure 5y is a diagrammatic view in perspectiveof the cable winding and unwinding drum, the. cables, and the pulleys therefor;

Figure 6 isa view in= vertical transverse section taken on the line 6.--6. of Figure 4 and drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 7 is a view in vertical transverse section taken-onV the line 'I-I of Figure 1;

Figure 8 isY a similar view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9v is another similar view taken on the line .9 9 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the apparatus. of our invention is' especially designed for u'sein lowering a burial casket I, and, as illustrated in Figures 4, 8 and 9, into a subsurface crypt 2' at one side of a corridor 3- in a 'conlvention'al mausoleum 4; Such cry-ptsA 2 are;

constructed with horizontal top ledges in the side Walls thereof, for supporting a closure, not shown, and with a short front end wall 6*, both said ledges and said end Wall being abover the level of the floor of the corridor 3.

The apparatus of our invention comprises' a portable carriage I0 with crank operative casket lowering mechanism designated generally by the numeral II operative from a rear end frame of the carriage I0 and both constructed and arranged for transporting the casket out of the corridor 3 over the front' wall 6 into lowering position over the crypt 2 with the rear end frame of the carriage positioned in the corridor 3 for operation of the lowering mechanism II by a .person standing in the corridor at said end of the carriage I0. Y

The carriage I0 comprisesA an upright rear end frame I2 of inverted U-shape forming rear corner leg members I3 for the carriage I0 crossconnected by a cross bar I4 adjacent the lower ends thereof. A vertical, central, panel I5 is bolted to the cross bar I4 and to the top' of said frame I2, for reinforcing purposes, and a further purpose presently seen. y'

A pair of horizontal side frames I6 extend forwardly from said rear end frame I2 and are suitably connected thereto, as by welding, not shown. The rear leg members I3 depend below the side frames I6 a distance slightly greater than the height of the front end wall 6 of theucryptk 2 above the floor of the corridor 3 so that said frames I6 may be positioned horizontally over the top of the crypt 2 with the rear e'nd frame I2 upright in the corridor 3.

The side frames I6 include upper and lower, parallel bars I'I,y I8 connected by front end up'- rights I9 from which depend front end corner leg members 20 for the carriage Ill. The front leg members 20 are shorter than the rear leg members I3 to support the side frames I6 horizontally over the crypt 2 while said legjme'mbers 20 rest on the track frame presently described.

Relatively shorter, intermediate, horizontal barsy 2| extend between the upper andI lower bars I'I, I8 of eachside frame I6 and are spaced from the rear end frame I2 for a purpose presently apparent. Upright bars arranged in front and rear pairs 22, 23 adjacent the ends of the intermediate barsZI connect said bars I'I, I8, I9 of the side frames I6. The rear end frame I2 and the side frames I6 are constructed oftubular stock for combining strength and lightness in Weight-and, thev said siderframes,y I6v are suii'icently .r951151211121#t0J eligible,y thasainef to.` be sprung, apart 3 at the front ends thereof for a particular purpose presently seen.

The front ends of the side frames I6 are adjustably connected together by a pair of tubular, aligned, horizontal cross bars 24, a rod 25 suit-- ably fixed in and extending out of one cross bar 24 and slidably extending into the other of said cross bars, and a coupling pin 26 adapted to be extended through an aperture 2I in said rod 25 and, selectively, through pairs of apertures 28 in the cross bar 24 in which the rod 25 is slidably extended.

A pair of upper and lower cross bars 29, 33 connect the side frames I6 adjacent the rear end frame I2 to brace said frames.

As will be seen, by springing the side frames I6 apart forwardly of the cross bars 23, 30 and then connecting the same together by inserting the pin 26 in appropriate pairs of apertures 28 and through the apertures 2I, the width of the carriage I may be Varied at its front end in accordance with different widths of crypts 2 resulting, for instance, from structural variations.

Ball-type casters 3| are suitably socketed in the lower ends of the rear and front leg members I3, 20 so that the carriage Iii may be rolled easily in transporting a casket I into lowering position.

The lowering mechanism II comprises a flanged, hollow, drum 32 for winding and unwinding cables, presentlyl described, and which is suitably xed on the lower end portion of an upright shaft 33 journaled at its lower end in a drum supporting plate 34 extending horizontally between and suitably fixed to the cross bars I4, 3| in the longitudinal center of the carriage IG. The upper end of the shaft 33 is journaled in a gear frame 35 on the beforementioned panel I5. A worm gear 35 fast on the upper end of said shaft 33 in the gear frame 35, meshes with a worm 3l in said frame, fast on a horizontal worm shaft 38 journaled in said frame 35 and in the panel I with a hand crank 39 fast thereon in the rear of said panel I5 and the rear end frame I2.

A pair of relatively long and short cables 45, 4| are permanently connected, as at 42, to the ldrum 32 on one side of said drum. The other ends of said cables 43, 4| are provided with hooks 43 selectively insert-able in circumferentially spaced apertures 44 in the drum 32 and in the side thereof opposite the connections 42,

whereby the cables 43, 4| form loops with both ends arranged to be wound up on the drum 32 when said drum is rotated in one direction, said cables being adapted for unwinding at both ends when said drum 32 is rotated in the opposite directions. The hooks 43 and apertures 44 provide for shortening the loops formed by the cables 4U, 4| for a purpose presently explained.

The cables 40, 4| are extended from the drum A32 toward opposite sides of the carriage I2 and I cables 4|, 42 for a purpose presently seen.

From the clamping blocks 46, 47, the short cable 42 is trained forwardly around a pair off 4 pulleys 5I on the intermediate bars 2| at outboard sides of the side frames I6 so that the loop formed by said cable extends across the carriage I0 adjacent the rear end thereof, whereas, from the clamping blocks `4'I, 48 the long cable 4!! is trained forwardly around a pair of pulleys 52 on the intermediate bars 2 I, at outboard sides of the side frames I6 so that the loop formed by said cable extends across the carriage I0 adjacent to the front end of the same.

As will now be seen, the long cable 40 forms a long loop which may be tightened by winding up on the drum 32 to support the casket I at hclear, by rotating the drum 32 in the proper direction, the long and short cables 4|, 42 may be unwound, uniformly, to lower the loops, under the weight of the casket I, uniformly, between the pairs of pulleys 52, 5| to thereby lower the casket I uniformly at both ends.

A rectangular track frame 55 is provided to t in the crypt 2 on the ledges 5. The track frame 55 is provided with side angle tracks 56 for resting on said ledges and along which the casters,3| of the front leg members 2|! may be rolled in transporting the casket I into lowering position, said track frame preventing the casters 3| from scraping against the sides of the crypt 2 above said ledges 5. Pairs of links 51 at the ends of the track frame 55 are pivoted at outer ends thereof, as at 58, to said tracks 56 with the inner ends of the links 51 of the pairs pivoted together, as at 53, so that the pairs of links 51 may be swung into parallel side by side relation to fold the tracks 5'5 side by side and parallel, so that the track frame 55 may be completely folded for carrying or storage when not in use. The pairs of links 5l are swingable relatively into unfolded, aligned, relation to unfold the track frame 55, as will be clear. A stop lug 60 on one link v5I of each pair engages the other link of the pair and establishes the unfolded position of the pairs of links 5l, and hence the unfolded position of the track frame 55. One link 5l of each pair is provided with longitudinally spaced apertures 6| for insertion of its pivot 59 selectively therethrough to vary the width of the track frame 55, when unfolded, in accordance with different Width of crypts 2.

The manner in which the described invention is desired to be used and operated will be readily understood. With the cables 40, 4| wound up on the drum 32 to tighten the loops formed thereby, the pairs of clamping blocks 4l, 48 may be tightened by the thumb screws 5B againstsaid cables to maintain taut the portions of the loops on said cables extending across the carriage IIJ. The casket may then be placed on the taut portions of said loops for transporting by the carriage III. With the track frame 55 positioned on the ledges 5, the carriage I0 may be grasped by the side frames I'l, wheeled along the corridor 3 with the rear end frame I2 rolling along the floor of the corridor and the front end of the carriage III held elevated to maintain the casket I level. The carriage I0 may then be rolled or wheeled to the crypt 2 and its front end disposed ony the track frame 55 by means of the front leg members 20 so that the casters 3i of said leg members will roll along the track bars 56 with the rear frame l2 rolling on the oor of the corridor 3. The carriage i9 may then, by using the top ofthe frame l2 as a handle bar, be shoved forwardly into the position shown in Figure 4 to disposethe casket l over the crypt 2 into lowering position with the rear end frame I2 disposed in the corridor 3 for easy access to the crank 39. Then, with the hand crank 39 held stationary,the clamping blocks 4l, 48 may be loosened and said crank operated to rotate the drum 32 inthe proper direction to unwind the cables 4|, 42 and lower the casket i, in the manner already/dei in selected apertures 44, for repeat operations.

Should slack occur in either tightened cables'4l, 42, this may be taken up by attaching the appropriate hook 43 in a selected aperture 44 to shorten the loops formed by the cable in which suchJ slack has occurred. .f

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufce to impart a clear understanding of our invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modifications, without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. Apparatus for lowering a burial casket into a sub-surface crypt comprising a substantially rectangular carriage for positioning in the top of the crypt comprising an upright end frame and horizontal opposite side frames, cable Winding and unwinding means on said carriage adjacent Vsaid end frame including a drum, a pair of cables, connections between both ends of said cables and said drum for winding said cables up and unwinding the same in the form of loops, and pairs of opposite pulleys on said side frames around which said loops are trained to be stretched taut across said carriage adjacent opposite ends thereof by winding up said cables to thereby support a casket elevated above said crypt, said 6 j.. cables being guided by said pulleys during unwinding thereof to provide descending loops between the pairs of pulleys for lowering the casket into said crypt, said connections comprising hooks attachable at circumferentially spaced points on said drum for adjusting the length of the loops formed by said cables.

2. Apparatus for lowering a burial casket into a sub-surface crypt comprising 'af substantially rectangular carriage for positioning in the top of the crypt comprising an upright'end frame of inverted U-shape forming a top handle bar, pairs of upper and lower side bars extending from said frame below said handle bar, cable winding and unwinding means on said carriage vadjacent said end frame, a pair of cables having both ends connected to said means for winding said cables up and unwinding the same in the form of loops, pairs of opposite pulleys mounted on said upper and lower side bars between the bars. of the pairs and around which said loops are trained to be stretched taut across said carriageadjacent opposite ends thereof by winding up said cables to thereby support a casket elevated above said crypt, said cables being guided by said pulleys during unwinding thereof to provide descending loops between the pairs of pulleys for lowering the casket into said crypt, and means for releasably holding said cables pulled tight independently of said means first named comprising cable clamps interposed between the'upper and lower side bars of said pairs and fixed thereto.

JOHN B. SINNER. OSCARA. SINNER..

REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 256,472 Everhard Apr. 18, 1882 329,522 Weidenmann et al. Nov. 3, 1885 541,128 Sprague June 18, 1895 579,806 Richmond Mar. 30, 1897 693,206 Wyckoff Feb. 11, 1902 837,645 Shoesmith Dec. 4, 1906 1,165,823 Westerheide Dec. 28, 1915 1,325,450 Niess-Waner Dec. 16, 1919 1,429,692 Passavanti Sept. 19, 1922 

